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In November 1998, the South African ANC government announced it would prioritise Saab’s offer, despite the need for 28 Gripen jets being questioned.

A decisive factor was support from the union Numsa and the movement Sanco. By December 1999 CEO of Saab, at the time, Bengt Halse, had signed the Gripen contract with South Africa. Six months earlier he had signed two other contracts for Saab, this time with Numsa and Sanco, both signed by Moses Mayekiso, a well-known union leader.

Prior to the state Seriti Commission, a leading critic Terry Crawford-Browne said he had information of suspect transactions between Saab and Mayekiso, with the aim of paying bribes to MPs to back the arms deal. This has not been proven and Saab denies the allegations.

SvD has now seen the previously confidential agreements. The second, with Numsa, was signed by Mayekiso, raising the question why, as Numsa was represented by other people. He also signed the contract as “industrial co-ordinator for Sweden”. When SvD speaks to Mayekiso, he says that he was a negotiator. He also refuses to answer if he was acting on behalf of Saab or the Numsa, or whether he was paid.

Meanwhile, Bengt Halse says that he does not know who Moses Mayekiso is, and does not remember him.